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Religion is an Adherence to god and a common truth based agenda developed across ages to keep the society together.Today the same religion is posing to be the biggest hurdle to human civilization. Today apart from inter religion riots, Conversions from religions and Religion based employment today we see the rise of another evil inside itself and the cause of it are the people of the same religion. I term this as a commercialization of Religion. Now let me go about explaining how fatal this is to a integrity of any religion.
I had a recent trip to Shirdi ( Nasik). Its quite known for Sai Baba. Now Any disciple of Sai Baba has the purest illusion of god in his mind and his quest to meet the maker. But as soon as you arrive in Shirdi, you find both the sides filled with Hotels and High Sky Buildings offering products in the name of the lord. For example there was one Sai Krupa Hotel , Sai Shruddhi, Sai Shraddha, Sai Bhakti .. This product placement in the name of religion is one of the finest ways to offer ones rooms for innocent Sai bhakts who just wish for the lord and nothing else.Now again these people have gone extreme steps even launching Bars in the name of the lord for instance one bar ( I dont quite remmeber the name) but i am sure there was a Sai as a prefix to it. This is just a beginning, once you swim accross the swarm of hotels who make you feel whether the lord really wished all this?...Second comes the Sai Template Entrance...
You enter through a line of shops from both sides of the small road leading to the temple gates..There around 100-200 Shops adorning this passage ranging from toys, Eateries, Sweeteries,Ornamental shops. I especially would like to condemn the shops selling rings, ornamental wear featuring the lord and charging high rates for the same..Now here I would like to mention the Sai Baba Sansthan of Shirdi has really done a marvelous job of establishing prasadalaya ( A bhojnalaya for the disciples). Even rooms for stay, Chappal Stands, Mobile Lockers at nominal Cost.. Kudos to them but the thing that hurts is that even though the Lion stands in the middle and if there are 100 bullocks surrounding it it would think of running away rather than fighting those 100 bulls. Now what i am trying to bring to the foray is the shops charging even 3times the rate of what it should be.Now next to the mobile lockers there was a shop where I needed to buy some flowers and other accessories to offer to Sai Baba.. The guy charged me 20 bucks for what it should be Rs 5 or on the higher side Rs 10. Now once your inside the temple Let me assure you that there is nothing that can harm you in financial way. Everything is Reasonably charged and all is this because of the Sai Baba Sansthan which deserves the due credit.
Now to add to the misery, There are 100's of beggars who come to you saying Baba will bless you if you offer them money. I personally like to help people in need but Once you donate to one of them then the other guy comes in then the rest of the troop. I am reminded of Traffic Signal movie. Now for a single like me this wont be of much problem but for a family guy with kids I recommend you plan out your visit.
By now I have come to believe if God in his almighty sense chooses his men because of their financial terms because I have been taught over the time that God doesn't see what you earn or do because The commercialization of religion can harm any devotees bhakti. Oh i forgot I Some of the hotels offers you AC rooms, Drinks and Spicy food so that you can fill your stomach to the full and then visit the lord through VIP Passes and that's what everyone would want rather than standing in lines with lakhs of common public who toil day and night and seek the blessings of Baba.
If any of you think I am wrong in what i write, I heard stories that Sai Baba lived a simple lifestyle. So Bhakts think for yourself Are you with the Lord or away from it.Next time you are searching HOTELS FOR SHIRDI on Google try searching Sai Baba Sansthan Accommodation. :) if any of you can think of some way to improve this situation please let me know. I am a true bhakt but the fact is a fact. Baba never asked you to sell stones or ornaments or clothes in his name.And I stand by him if any of you disagree with me Please let me know and I will close this article down or if you think what I say is based on some fact I would really appreicate a reply and what we can do to improve whats going on in Shirdi Bolo Sainath Maharaj ki Jai
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